This past offseason included significant player movement, including Paul George, DeMar DeRozan, and Klay Thompson. What nobody expected though, was Buddy Hield to be the Warriors offseason steal of the summer. Judging by the season’s first two weeks, Hield has unquestionably had the most significant impact of the offseason moves.
Warriors Offseason Steal Erasing Worry Over Departed Legend
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Whatever concern, worry, or unease that overshadowed the Golden State Warriors following the departure of Steph Curry‘s splash brother, Thompson, for now at least, it would appear that the shadow has lifted. In rather remarkable fashion, Hield, the Warriors offseason pickup who split last season with the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers, is making the case that the Warriors will be just fine without Thompson.
Hield has started his season off with an absolute bang. He is tied for second behind Anthony Edwards in three-pointers made (33 to 36). He’s also shooting a dead-on 50% from long distance. Hield has been nothing short of phenomenal for the Warriors thus far. Losing Thompson invited multitudes of questions about how the Warriors would fare without the high-level shooting four-time champion. Curry would continue to do Curry-type things, but where the secondary shooting would come from was a legitimate inquiry. It appears that Hield has answered that question. His impact has not been lost on the Warriors, nor has it been lost on the opposition. Listen to what Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka had to say.
“He’s Klay Thompson all over again,” said Udoka, “that’s how they’re using him. So he slides right in, albeit off the bench. They haven’t changed their style at all. They continue to play the same way. Like I said, some young guys have stepped up and taken the reins with those roles. You can add [Moses] Moody to the mix as well, shooting extremely well. So although he’s not starting when he comes in, I think he’s averaging 21 in about 24 minutes, so he’s scoring at a high clip.”
Leading the Team, Helping Curry
Hield is not Curry—never will be Curry—but there is an argument that his impact on Golden State will be equal to Curry’s as the season progresses. One could also ask, would the Warriors even be 6-1 if it were not for Hield? His 21.9 PPG has proved to be instrumental in the Warriors winning ways, and he also leads the team in that category. Curry comes in behind him, averaging 19.8 PPG. The next highest Warrior is Andrew Wiggins, with 15.8 PPG. Suffice it to say, Hield’s impact is telling.
Prior to the season’s start, the Warriors were projected to have a down season and possibly miss the post-season altogether. Thompson’s departure for the Dallas Mavericks vacated a significant hole in the roster and the playing style fans have gravitated to over the years. It may be time we took Golden State a little more seriously. Judging by what we’ve seen so far, Hield looks to be crucial for Curry, head coach Steve Kerr, and the rest of the Warriors season. If Hield keeps this production level up, he could very well be the steal of the summer.
